Cheap beginner telescope

[Johndepro]

Why not? The size of the Tripod mounting screw is universal

Anyway I have a spare CG4 mount lying around, currently on loan, see if u want to borrow when I get it back

Regards,
Junwei

I would love to borrow it, notify me when you got it back, john

[Johndepro]

Hi guys, thank you for your help
I just found out that my mount literally broke
It have some cracks on the mount, so I think I would like to change the mount

[Gary]

Hi guys, thank you for your help
I just found out that my mount literally broke
It have some cracks on the mount, so I think I would like to change the mount

You may take a photo of it and post it here. Perhaps it can still be repaired cheaply.

[Johndepro]

Hi, I am wondering if I can get any telescope better than my 50az
My budget is around $100-$200.

Hi John. Welcome to the forum!

Agree with Junwei about saving up a bit more. In the meantime, look through more telescopes at planets and see how they perform and how much they cost. You don't want to be in this situation:

(1) Spend $200 get telescope B to replace A
(2) Find the A to B improvement marginal
(3) Spend $XXX to get telescope C to replace B
(4) Find the B to C improvement marginal
(5) Spend $XXX to get telescope D to replace C
(6) Find the C to D improvement marginal

Instead, save up to buy telescope D directly. Then you will find the jump from A to D visually significant!

Find out more about the mix-and-match capabilities of different telescope with different mount. Usually an additional adapter is all that is required. Don't be restricted only by full set telescope systems.

Another approach is this. After viewing through different telescopes and doing more research, finalise your decision on Telescope X + Mount /Tripod Y. Then save up for both and buy them when ready. In the meantime, if you see them for sale used at a good price, you may:

- buy X and wait for Y used or continue to save up until you can buy Y new
- buy Y and wait for X used or continue to save up until you can buy X new
- if you are lucky, X and Y both appears used at the same time, then buy them and enjoy the higher total savings and cutting short your waiting time to get X and Y.

It may feel "torturous" to have X or Y only and not able to use them alone for stargazing immediately. But when you finally get both, you will appreciate the savings and be rewarded with your patience and greatly reduce the desire to keep upgrading aimlessly. If you procure your telescope first, bring it to our stargazing sessions. We will be very glad let you use our tripod/mount with it to scratch your stargazing itch.

The same approach can be applied to eyepieces and other accessories - e.g. waiting for a good barlow and a good eyepiece.

Good luck!

Thank you for your advice I am looking forward for future stargazing sessions

[Johndepro]

I can't seem to post a picture of my mount ...

[Gary]

I can't seem to post a picture of my mount ...

The attachment filesize for this forum is small.

Try using an online photo album and embed the photo here, e.g. flickr, photobucket, picassa...etc.

[Johndepro]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... t=1&ref=nf

[Johndepro]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/102204036@N05/

[Gary]

Embed for you here.

[Mariner]

This is a crappy mount. Suggest you upgrade to a better one. You'll need to change your existing "hook" on your scope to a dovetail if you intend to use it on the CG4.